diff --git a/basemodels/manifest/manifest.py b/basemodels/manifest/manifest.py
index 45fc25f..a012f5c 100644
--- a/basemodels/manifest/manifest.py
+++ b/basemodels/manifest/manifest.py
@@ -20,15 +20,6 @@
 from basemodels.constants import JOB_TYPES_FOR_CONTENT_TYPE_VALIDATION
 
 
-# Validator function for taskdata and taskdata_uri fields
-def validator_taskdata_uri(cls, value, values, **kwargs):
-    taskdata = values.get("taskdata")
-    taskdata_uri = values.get("taskdata_uri")
-    if taskdata is not None and len(taskdata) > 0 and taskdata_uri is not None:
-        raise ValidationError("Specify only one of taskdata {} or taskdata_uri {}".format(taskdata, taskdata_uri))
-    return value
-
-
 # A validator function for UUID fields
 def validate_uuid(cls, value):
     return value or uuid.uuid4()
@@ -330,6 +321,14 @@ class Manifest(Model):
     def validate(cls, values: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         start_date = values["start_date"]
         expiration_date = values["expiration_date"]
+        # validate at least taskdata or taskdata_uri is present
+        taskdata = values.get("taskdata")
+        taskdata_uri = values.get("taskdata_uri")
+        if taskdata is not None and len(taskdata) > 0 and taskdata_uri is not None:
+            raise ValueError("Specify only one of taskdata {} or taskdata_uri {}".format(taskdata, taskdata_uri))
+        if taskdata is None and taskdata_uri is None:
+            raise ValueError("No taskdata or taskdata_uri found in manifest")
+
         if not start_date and not expiration_date:
             # Timestamps are not passed
             return values
@@ -398,8 +397,6 @@ def validate_requester_question_example(cls, value, values, **kwargs):
             raise ValueError("Lists are not allowed in this challenge type")
         return value
 
-    validate_taskdata_uri = validator("taskdata_uri", allow_reuse=True, always=True)(validator_taskdata_uri)
-    validate_taskdata = validator("taskdata", allow_reuse=True, always=True)(validator_taskdata_uri)
     validate_request_type = validator("request_type", allow_reuse=True, always=True)(RequestTypeValidator().validate)
     validate_job_api_key = validator("job_api_key", always=True, allow_reuse=True)(validate_uuid)
     validate_job_id = validator("job_id", always=True, allow_reuse=True)(validate_uuid)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 070ff1b..99b6b00 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "hmt-basemodels"
-version = "0.2.6"
+version = "0.2.7"
 description = ""
 authors = ["Intuition Machines, Inc <support@hcaptcha.com>"]
 packages = [
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 9ef0e5c..c2f87d9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="hmt-basemodels",
-    version="0.2.6",
+    version="0.2.7",
     author="HUMAN Protocol",
     description="Common data models shared by various components of the Human Protocol stack",
     url="https://github.com/hCaptcha/hmt-basemodels",
diff --git a/tests/test_manifest_validation.py b/tests/test_manifest_validation.py
index 8ead9e7..bb111af 100644
--- a/tests/test_manifest_validation.py
+++ b/tests/test_manifest_validation.py
@@ -196,6 +196,13 @@ def test_can_fail_toconstruct2(self):
         mani.taskdata_uri = "test"
         self.assertRaises(ValidationError, validate_func(mani))
 
+    def test_manifest_must_contain_taskdata(self):
+        """Tests that manifest raises error when there is no taskdata"""
+        manifest = get_data()
+        manifest["taskdata_uri"] = None
+        with self.assertRaises(ValidationError):
+            basemodels.manifest.Manifest(**manifest)
+
     def test_can_make_request_config_job(self):
         """Test that jobs with valid request_config parameter work"""
         manifest = a_manifest(
diff --git a/tests/test_restricted_answer_set.py b/tests/test_restricted_answer_set.py
index 7162b53..97c75d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_restricted_answer_set.py
+++ b/tests/test_restricted_answer_set.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     "recording_oracle_addr": "0x6a0E68eA5F706339dd6bd354F53EfcB5B9e53E49",
     "reputation_oracle_addr": "0x6a0E68eA5F706339dd6bd354F53EfcB5B9e53E49",
     "reputation_agent_addr": "0x6a0E68eA5F706339dd6bd354F53EfcB5B9e53E49",
+    "taskdata_uri": "http://google.com/fake",
 }
 
 NESTED_MANIFEST_VALUES = {